I liked this so well that I unconsciously plagiarized the title for one of my own poems last week! (I told Dick; he was very understanding about it.) Despite its apparent simplicity, as Beth says, it does bear repeated re-readings.

I join the applause, Dick. I like the strong insistence on straightness (so many permutations of it, but none feels forced) until the world takes over and brings in the bend.

Bill

August 16, 2006 at 10:06 am

But I am afraid I must ask for the “facts”: are ferries really said to “ride at”, and “to haul anchor”? The twice mentioned and metaphorically weighted anchor troubles me when I think it has no real place in the narrative.

Shiver me timbers and smack me with a mackerel if I’m mistaken!

Bill

August 16, 2006 at 1:49 pm

Dear Dick,

Hope you don’t mind the flying shards as I grapple for your poem on the high shelf.

I do love the anchor thing. Your poem has kept me happily occupied. Throughout the morning the anchor has come and gone; become stuck and unstuck, leaving me wondering if the ship or the smile were ever really there. But of the anchor I am certain.

In fact, many thanks to all who have commented – mb, Dave (that title must be in the common domain!), Marjea-Leena, Natalie, Teju (good to see a new blog from you), MB, Mikey & Peter. I’m very gratified by the appreciative reactions to the poem, but also a little surprised. It languished for a long time in its notebook, unaltered since it was written during a poetry workshop writing exercise in which one had to produce a piece in 15 minutes (a process that eventually had me quitting the group!) As someone who sometimes has poems gestating for years, maybe I should trust the ‘shoot-from-the-hip’ process more!

Bill, I’ve emailed you concerning your reservations about anchors ridden & hauled. And I’ve made some adjustments, which I’m confident should satisfy the demands of the most demanding of Patrick O’Brian fans!

I considered briefly the Pythonesque option offered by Bill of shivering his timbers & then smacking him with a mackerel were he incorrect concerning the use of an anchor. But he’s actually right: no ferry would lie alongside a jetty & also ride at anchor, nor, therefore, would it haul said anchor either. Ferries are moored fore & aft by cables. In drawing attention to this, Bill bypassed the effete, unworldly poet in me & located the pedantic ubernerd beneath. I propose, therefore, the following alterations: ‘…to where the ferry
tugged its moorings. / Just in time: / the straining lines / released, the cables / stowed, the ferry /
drove a silver / track…’

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